Tuesday 22 February 2011 09.27 EST
First published on Tuesday 22 February 2011 09.27 EST

Opponents of Britain's arms trade are "completely at odds with reality", David Cameron said, as he hit out critics of his three-day visit to the Gulf.

In a staunch defence of Britain's arms exports, as he tours the region with a group of senior defence manufacturers, Cameron said it was wrong to leave small Gulf countries to fend for themselves.

Speaking in Kuwait, which is marking the 20th anniversary of the expulsion of Saddam Hussein's forces, Cameron said: "The idea that we should expect small and democratic countries like Kuwait to be able to manufacture all their means of defence seems to me completely at odds with reality."

The prime minister indicated irritation with his critics when was asked during a press conference with his Kuwaiti counterpart how he could promote democracy and reform in the Middle East while travelling with businessmen selling arms to the region.

Cameron said: "I simply don't understand how you can't understand how democracies have a right to defend themselves. I would have thought this argument is particularly powerful right here in Kuwait which, 20 years ago, was invaded by a thuggish bullying neighbour who disrespected your sovereignty, invaded your country and destroyed parts of your capital city.

He added: "Are we honestly saying that for all time, forever and a day, that countries like Kuwait have to manufacture and maintain every single part of their own defences? I think very few people considering that argument for any time would give it any consideration at all."

Cameron mounted a three-point defence of his Gulf tour:

• On the 20th anniversary of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, it is right that the emirate should be allowed to defend itself. "The idea that Kuwait should not be able to have its own armed forces that are able to defend its own country and take part in the defence trade in that way – I find an extraordinary argument for us to make when we extended such help to Kuwait and when British service personnel played such a huge role."

• Britain has tough export licences governing its arms sales. "When Britain does take part in the defence trade we do so with probably the tightest set of export licences and rules almost anywhere in the world. It is obviously a difficult process to get right on every occasion. But we do have very, very tough controls, and very clear controls.

"The idea that we should expect small and democratic countries like Kuwait to be able to manufacture all their means of defence seems to me completely at odds with reality. So a properly regulated trade in defence is not something we should be ashamed of. The fact that there are British companies on this visit like British Aerospace or Thales or others that have a perfect right in this regard stands for itself."

• None of the five Memoranda Of Understanding, signed with Kuwait, cover defence. They instead focus on energy and technology.

Cameron said: "I am very proud to have brought to Kuwait such a wide range of not just businesspeople, but also people involved with cultural and other endeavours. It is important, as Britain wants to link itself with some of the fastest growing parts of the world and to improve our trade relations, that we take such delegations of business people."

Sheikh Nasser Mohammed al-Ahmed al-Sabah, the Kuwaiti prime minister, said: "The distinguished delegates who have arrived with the prime minister are in various types not only military aspects. In our four-year plan the budget is £70bn. We welcome all the British companies and to go ahead with us."